Save for a couple of productive seasons with the Boston Red Sox early in his career, Buddy Myer was a career member of the Washington Senators, the team he began and ended his career with.
The slick-fielding Myer was traded to the Boston Red Sox, and in his brief stay in Massachusetts, his stock rose so much so that the Senators traded five players to get him back before the 1929 season. Myer became more consistent, moving from shortstop to second base and dominating the middle infield. He controlled the strike zone, with a career-high 102 walks in 1934, showing that his ability to reach base was key for the Senators' offense.
Any story about Myer has to include his historic display of resilience during the 1933 season. Myer was at the center of one of baseball's most violent brawls after being spiked and subjected to antisemitic taunts by Ben Chapman of the Yankees. Despite the targeted abuse and the fact that he was raised Baptist, though he never felt it necessary to publicly correct assumptions about his heritage, Myer remained focused on the field. He helped lead the Senators to the 1933 American League Pennant, delivering a steady performance in the World Series in their loss to the New York Giants.
In the 1935 season, he produced a remarkable performance that remains one of the greatest hitting displays in team history. On the final day, he went 4-for-5, finishing with a .349 average and winning the American League Batting Title by a narrow margin over Joe Vosmik. That year, he placed fourth in MVP voting, with 215 hits, 100 RBIs, and led the league in double plays turned by a second baseman. This outstanding season earned him his first of two All-Star selections, solidifying his reputation as a top player in the Junior Circuit.
Myer played until 1941, leaving behind 1,828 hits, 735 RBIs, and a .303 batting average.
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